Widened base of a boat keel

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a widened base of a boat keel, notably the base of any keel intended to equip a catamaran-type boat. The skate ( 3 ) is prepared separately but mounted and firmly affixed under the keel ( 2 ) of a hull ( 1 ) by simple means.  
     The separate skate ( 3 ) is mounted under the keel ( 2 ) and can easily be removed by means of vertical screws passing through the skate ( 3 ) and screwing into holes drilled into the bottom of the keel ( 2 ).

[0001] This invention relates to the widened base of a boat keel, notably the base of any keel intended to equip a catamaran-type boat.

[0002] There already exists a catamaran-type boat keel that is widened at its base and has a horizontal section that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom to form a skate, as shown in U.S. design patent D362,835, the wide skate providing a “foil” effect under a spinnaker in a beam wind.

[0003] Also, catamaran-type pleasure boats are known to be used notably near beaches across which they are dragged or towed, resting on their keels. These boats are often towed across beaches without external means and, because their V-shaped hull forms a kind of snowplow, they are very difficult and bothersome to tow. Towing is facilitated by the presence of keels widened at the bottom into the shape of a skate.

[0004] Another advantage of skate-keels of this type is that they constitute handles for the user when the boat capsizes, which is frequent in this case. The user can press his heels against the skate of a keel to right the boat.

[0005] However, since the skate is integrated into the rest of the keel, it has the disadvantage of being fragile and wearing out quickly, which leads to rapid wear of the entire keel and deterioration of the general structure of one or both hulls of the catamaran.

[0006] Moreover, manufacture of this skate-bottomed keel is tricky and costly, requiring installation of a complexly shapped mould under the keel—a multi-part tapering mould is needed.

[0007] One object of this invention is to remedy these disadvantages—namely rapid wear, deterioration of the hull, costly and inconvenient manufacture—also by means of a widened base that both provides a “foil” effect and facilitates moving the catamaran across a beach.

[0008] According to one characteristic of the invention, there is a separate skate that can be mounted and firmly affixed under the keel of a boat hull by simple means.

[0009] According to another characteristic, there is a separate skate whose mounting on and removal from the keel are facilitated by means of vertical screws that go through the skate and screw into holes drilled into the bottom of the keel.

[0010] It thus becomes possible, upon assessing the wear of the skate, to remove and replace it before deterioration of the keel becomes irreversible.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, the skate has been coated with a reflective material for easier detection of the boat when it has capsized.

[0012] According to another characteristic of the invention, the separate skate is wider than the bottom of the keel and its upper surface includes a center part that matches the shape of the keel-bottom and is bordered by longitudinal edges on either side of the keel-bottom.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, the separate skate has a series of holes that are longitudinally aligned along the center of said center part, that face the holes drilled in said keel-bottom, and through which the screws pass.

[0014] According to another characteristic of the invention, the separate skate, seen in profile, has a variable thickness such that its bottom surface is straight, regardless of the profile of the bottom of the keel.

[0015] The above-mentioned characteristics of the invention, as well as others, will become more clear upon reading the following description of an example embodiment, said description being made with reference to the attached drawings:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cross-section of a boat hull and notably of a keel under which a skate according to the example embodiment has been mounted.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a partial longitudinal cross-section of the keel of FIG. 1, under which a skate according to the invention has been attached.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic elevation view of a hull to which a skate of the invention is being attached.

[0019]FIG. 1 shows the cross-section of a hull 1 which narrows toward the bottom into a keel 2, under which is mounted a skate 3. The skate 3 is noticeably wider than the bottom 4 of the keel 2 and, as FIG. 1 shows, has edges 5 on either side of the base 4 of the keel 2 that together create a center part 6.

[0020] Along the central longitudinal line of part 6, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, vertical holes 7 have been drilled here and there facing holes 8 drilled vertically into the keel 2 and through which screws 9 are screwed.

[0021]FIG. 2 partially shows that the skate 3 is abutted against the back edge 19 of the bottom 4 of the keel 2, which ensures that holes 7 and 8 are correctly aligned when the skate is positioned. The holes 8 may be pre-equipped with threaded ferrules for added security.

[0022] The exploded profile view of FIG. 3 shows that the skate 3 can be of variable thickness such that its bottom surface is straight.

[0023] It is further understood that other means of fixation can be adapted for optimum fixation of this skate.

[0024] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. A widened base for a boat keel, notably the base of any keel intended to equip a catamaran-type boat, the keel having a bottom further comprising a skate prepared separately but mounted and firmly affixed under the keel of a boat hull by simple means.
 2. The widened keel base of claim 1, wherein the separate skate is mounted under the keel and can be easily removed by means of vertical screws passing through the skate and screwing into holes drilled into the bottom of the keel.
 3. The widened keel base of claim 1, wherein the skate further comprises a surface that has been coated with a reflective material for easier detection of the boat when the boat capsizes.
 4. The widened keel base of claim 2, wherein the separate skate is wider than the bottom of the keel and further comprises an upper surface including a center part that matches the shape of said bottom and is bordered, on either side of said bottom, by longitudinal edges.
 5. The widened keel base of claim 4, wherein the separate skate has a series of holes longitudinally aligned along the center of said center part facing holes drilled into said bottom, through which the screws pass.
 6. The widened base of claim 1, wherein the separate skate, seen in profile, has a variable thickness such that its bottom surface is straight, regardless of the profile of said bottom of the keel. 